ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA

As a new academic year starts in Algeria, third graders can expect to learn English, as well as French, as a foreign language.

Algeria is celebrating 60 years of independence from France with nationwide ceremonies, a pardon of 14,000 prisoners and its first military parade in years.

An Algerian military officer-turned-democracy activist has been deported from Spain and charged in Algeria in a case that human rights groups see as another sign of an ever-expanding crackdown on dissent.

They both carved out sterling reputations as military and political leaders over years of public service.

The parties of Algeria’s ruling majority dominated local and regional elections while Islamist parties saw their support diminish.

Algeria’s leader has declared a three-day period of mourning for former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, whose 20-year-long rule ended in disgrace as he was pushed from power amid huge street protests when he decided to seek a new term.

Algerian state television says former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who fought for independence from France and was ousted from power in 2019 amid pro-democracy protests, has died at age 84.

A moderate Islamist party has claimed victory Sunday in Algeria’s legislative election even though results were not expected for several more days.

Algerians voted for a new parliament in an election with a majority of novice independent candidates running under new rules meant to erase political corruption and open the way to a “new Algeria.”.

Candidates hopeful of winning one of the 407 seats in the Algerian parliament have kicked off campaigning for legislative elections in June under a new system meant to weed out corruption and open voter rolls.

Algeria’s pro-democracy movement is at a crossroads two years after it ousted the country’s long-serving leader.

Algerian students demonstrate, one with a poster reading "The right to defend our rights" in Algiers, Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Protesters took to the streets of Algiers and other cities around Algeria last Friday in a bid to restart weekly pro-democracy demonstrations. (AP Photo/Fateh Guidoum)ALGIERS – Hundreds of students restarted their weekly Tuesday protest marches that were called off last spring because of the coronavirus. The march came eight days after the Hirak pro-democracy movement reappeared in streets around the country to mark its second anniversary and days after the weekly Friday marches restarted. Hirak's peaceful protests helped force long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from office in 2019.

Algerians demonstrate in Algiers to mark the second anniversary of the Hirak movement, Monday Feb. 22, 2021. February 22 marks the second anniversary of Hirak, the popular movement that led to the fall of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The protesters of the Hirak movement helped force long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power in 2019. The president also dissolved parliament to pave the way for new elections, among the demands of the Hirak movement. The stream of activists, men, women and children, filled the capital's streets, recalling the height of the Hirak movement.

FILE - In this Thursday, May 4, 2017 file photo, Said Bouteflika, the brother of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, takes ballots before voting in Algiers. A military appeal court in Algeria on Saturday has cleared the brother of the country's longtime former leader, two ex-intelligence chiefs and the leader of a leftist political party who had all been accused of plotting against the state. Among the four defendants was Said Bouteflika, the brother and once-powerful special counsellor of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who forced to resign from office in April 2019 amid growing peaceful street protests. Khaled Berghel, the lawyer for Said Bouteflika, told the official APS news agency that the Blida military appeal court decided to clear the four defendants. Saturday’s ruling comes after the Supreme Court decided in November to quash the previous verdict and retry the case.

FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 file photo, Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune delivers a speech during an inauguration ceremony in the presidential palace, in Algiers, Algeria. (AP Photo/Toufik Doudou, File)ALGIERS – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said Tuesday that he was back in his country but still recovering from COVID-19 after two months away. After nearly two months out of the public eye, the 75-year-old president reappeared in mid-December in a video message, saying it might be several weeks before he was fit enough to return to Algeria. “Being far away from the country is difficult,” he said in the video aired Tuesday. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad has been in charge during Tebboune’s absence as the country struggles with an economy worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and other issues.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune fell ill and then left for treatment in Germany in late October. Before his 4-minute, 54-second video on Sunday, his last public appearance had been in mid-October, meeting France's foreign minister when he visited the former French colony. The 75-year-old Tebboune spoke clearly in the video and did not appear short of breath even after long phrases. “I will fully recover my physical strength in perhaps one, two or three weeks,” he said. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad has been in charge during Tebboune’s absence as the country struggles with an economy made worse by the coronavirus and other issues.

ALGIERS – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune marks a year in office Saturday but he is nowhere in sight since his evacuation to Germany more than six weeks ago for treatment of COVID-19. “I sincerely expected him to give us a surprise by returning home today for the first anniversary of his election. Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad has been in charge during Tebboune’s absence, conspicuous as the country struggles with an economy made worse by the coronavirus and a host of other issues. Constitutional law professor Fatiha Benabou said there is no date limiting the time Tebboune can be away. “But on a political level, the absence of the president, who embodies the essential powers, is obviously a problem."

ALGIERS – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has finished his treatment for COVID-19 in an undisclosed location in Germany, and is undergoing medical tests, his office said Sunday. Amid growing concern in Algeria about the 74-year-old president’s health, his office issued a statement Sunday saying: “The medical team accompanying him confirms that the president has completed the recommended treatment protocol after having contracted COVID-19, and is currently undergoing medical tests.”The statement didn't provide details about his condition or his location, or indicate when Tebboune might return to Algeria. Tebboune was sent to an Algerian military hospital last month and then transferred to Germany in a special medical plane on Oct. 28. His office initially didn't explain the reason for the move, but confirmed a week later that he had the virus. Algeria has reported 2,139 virus-related deaths and more than 66,000 infections.